KAI has been selected to lead stabilization and repair efforts at the historic Annie Malone Children and Family Services headquarters, helping preserve a treasured St. Louis institution and protect the nearly century-old building from further deterioration.
Originally constructed in 1922, the approximately 15,200-square-foot headquarters at 2612 Annie Malone Drive stands as a symbol of Annie Malone’s enduring legacy of service to the St. Louis community. Named in honor of Annie Turnbo Malone, an American businesswoman, inventor and philanthropist, the organization has served vulnerable children and families for more than 100 years.
Malone built her success developing hair and skin care products for Black women and used her wealth and influence to support the African American community, including the St. Louis Colored Orphans Home, which later became Annie Malone Children and Family Services.
The organization recently received $1 million through the St. Louis Development Corporation’s North Corridor Community Enhancement Grant Program to help stabilize the historic building. KAI is serving as general contractor on the project following a formal selection process.
The need for repairs predates the tornado that struck north St. Louis on May 16, 2025. Annie Malone Children and Family Services had already identified critical stabilization needs at its headquarters and pursued grant funding to address deteriorating conditions throughout the building. The tornado caused additional damage, increasing the urgency of protecting the structure.
The building experienced another setback during the following winter as the organization managed ongoing issues with its aging boiler system. While the boiler was out of service during a period of extreme cold, portions of the building’s sprinkler and domestic water lines froze. As temperatures rose and the pipes thawed, several lines burst, causing interior water damage and further deterioration.
“This is much more than a construction project for KAI. Annie Malone is an institution that has meant so much to St. Louis and to generations of families in this community, and there is a deep sense of responsibility that comes with helping preserve that legacy,” said KAI Build Vice President Gyasi H.L. Haynes. “As a St. Louis-based company committed to transforming communities, it is especially meaningful for us to be able to use our expertise to help protect a place with such an extraordinary history and ensure it can continue serving this community for generations to come.”
KAI’s initial scope of work focuses on stabilizing and protecting the structure to prevent further deterioration. Work includes emergency roof replacement and weatherproofing, structural stabilization measures, brick tuckpointing and masonry restoration, chimney repairs, drainage improvements, repairs associated with freeze-related water damage, and other protective measures designed to preserve the historic integrity of the building while positioning it for future restoration efforts.
KAI is also working with Annie Malone Children and Family Services to prioritize the highest-impact improvements within the available grant funding, addressing the facility’s most critical needs while completing as many priority repairs as the project budget allows.
“Preserving this building is about much more than saving bricks and mortar. It is about protecting a legacy of hope, resilience and service that has impacted generations of children and families,” said Keisha Lee, chief executive officer of Annie Malone Children and Family Services. “Our leadership team and board worked tirelessly to secure this funding because we believe deeply in the importance of this institution and the community it serves. We are grateful to SLDC for investing in this historic asset and to KAI for partnering with us to ensure this mission continues for generations to come.”
Construction is underway, with stabilization efforts focused on securing the facility, preventing further damage and extending the useful life of this historic community asset.